God's Temple 09.13.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today we are continuing our studies on the book of Ezekiel, please read Chapters 40-42 or Click Here to read online. Cut & paste to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2040-42&version=9

Today we will read and learn about the vision of the future Temple in Jerusalem. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that we are the Temple of God.

Ezekiel received another vision, this time through God, he envisioned the rebuilding of the Temple. "In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither. In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south. And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate. And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel." (Ezekiel 40:1-4). This new vision looked far into the future, where Ezekiel saw a glorious Temple, far more magnificent than the Temple built by Solomon.

Solomon's Temple, the Tabernacle, as well as the future Temple describes an innermost room, called the Most Holy Place or the Oracle where God's presence dwelt, "Then went he inward, and measured the post of the door, two cubits; and the door, six cubits; and the breadth of the door, seven cubits. So he measured the length thereof, twenty cubits; and the breadth, twenty cubits, before the temple: and he said unto me, This is the most holy place." (41:3-4). The Temple was a type of Christ that carried the presence of God, giving believers a sense of hope and a way to be free from sin.

Today, we do not have to worry about walking into a building and going before a priest to confess our sins or seek the presence of God when we need hope. We have the great fortune of being able to carry His presence with us everyday. Once we accept Jesus as our Lord the Holy Spirit moves in us giving us the presence of God and making us His Temple. "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (I Corinthians 3:13-17).

In today's reading Jesus Christ is revealed through the sacrifice, (Ezekiel 40:42). Jesus was the great and final sacrifice that saved us from all of our sins, even those we have not already commited.

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Without the shed blood of Your Son, Jesus, we were weighed down by the shackles of sin. It spreads as a disease from our hearts to our minds separating us from our Creator and making us a bond slave to Satan. Thank You for sending Jesus, who by His intense love and sacrificial death, freed us from the sin that ensnared us. He turned our mourning into dancing as He lifted our condemnation and replaced it with eternal hope. In Jesus' name.....Amen.

Have a great and wonderful day!
God Bless You,
Christina

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